Beautifully Hurt (Beautifully Broken)

I wish I could tell Katie right now. She’s going to be so happy for me.

I take another deep breath, trying my best to calm my racing heart. It’s no use, though, because my emotions are all over the place.

Eli brings us to a stop at Tidewater Plaza, and climbing out of the truck, he takes my hand and weaves his fingers through mine as we walk toward the Walmart.

I glance down, looking at our joined hands, and then my eyes lift up to Eli’s face.

So surreal.

His thumb brushes over my skin as he looks down at me. “Sure you’re okay?”

I nod quickly. “Just trying to process this. I didn’t expect it… ah… you know.”

A slight frown forms on his forehead. “Me asking you to dinner?”

“Yeah.” Feeling awkward and inexperienced, I begin to ramble, “I was hoping for it to happen but never really believed it would.”

God, Quinn. Shut up.

I pinch my eyes shut, shaking my head while hoping the ground would just swallow me for admitting that to Eli.

Eli tugs me to a stop right in front of the entrance to the Walmart.

I give him an apologetic look for my weird behavior. “I’m sorry.”

He lifts his other hand to the back of my neck, and he pulls me to his chest. Pressing a kiss to the top of my head, he says, “Nothing to be sorry about. As long as I’m not moving too fast for you.”

I pull back, my eyes darting to his face. “God, no. Definitely not.”

His lips curve into a hot smile. “Then why are you uncomfortable?”

“I’m not. I’m just overwhelmed.”

“You want this, right? A relationship with me?” He asks.

Summoning all my courage, I whisper, “More than anything. It’s all I’ve wanted for the past seven years.”

Eli’s intense gaze locks with mine. “Is that why you’re always nervous around me?”

I nod, my mouth going bone dry.

He pulls me back to his chest, and then I feel his breath skimming over my ear. “If only I’d known.” He presses another kiss to the side of my head. “I like you a hell of a lot, Quinn. Have for quite a while. Don’t be nervous around me anymore. Okay?”

I nod against his chest, my relief and happiness so intense I don’t think there are words to express how I feel.

“And I’m in this for the long haul.” Eli pulls back, looking down at me. “Ready to do some shopping?”

“Yeah,” I say, grinning at him.

He lets go of my hand and grabs a cart, then we walk into Walmart.

“What do you want to get for the house?” I ask as I glance around us.

“Anything that will add warmth to the house. That’s why you’re here.”

“I can’t just decorate your house,” I laugh.

“Yeah, you can.”

With my teeth tugging at my bottom lip, I glance up and down the aisles until we reach the home section. I look at a couple of rugs then ask, “How about this rug? It’s abstract, so it won’t show dirt easily.”

“Okay.” Eli grabs the rug and shoves it into the cart.

“You’re really okay with it?” I ask.

“I’m trusting your taste.”

Crap, no pressure.

I keep walking, careful to point out an item to Eli, scared he’ll keep loading things into the cart.

When we get to the lamps, I stare at a shelf lamp. “You can put some plants or candles or a framed photo on the shelves. It will look pretty.”

Without a word, Eli places one in the cart.

“You’re really trusting me to not make a mess of your house?”

“Yeah.”

I give him a playful grin. “Hmm… you might end up regretting this.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

ELI

By the time we’re done, Quinn’s much more relaxed.

I’m still processing the fact that she was just nervous around me because she’s liked me for… fuck… seven years?

How did I not pick up on that?

I always just thought Quinn was skittish by nature.

Again, a smile tugs at the corner of my mouth because knowing she’s had feelings for me for so long fills my heart with warmth.

Damn, if I had known, I would’ve made a move much sooner. Probably as soon as I returned from serving in the military.

I load our purchases onto the back of my truck and ask, “What do you want for dinner?”

“Anything.” Quinn picks up the throw pillows we got for the couches. “Can you cook? I don’t mind making dinner.”

“I’m no chef, but I won’t poison you either,” I joke.

“Surprise me,” she says before placing the pillows in the cab.

When we’re done loading everything, we climb into the truck. Taking hold of Quinn’s hand, I bring it to my mouth and press a kiss to her skin. “Thank you for helping me.”

Quinn lifts her eyes to mine, and now that I know about the past seven years, I see the hope and dreams in her big green eyes.

Christ. I could slap myself upside the head.